Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic ReligionsSyracuse University Press, 1 jun 1988 - 280 páginas Most people know of Valhalla, the World-Tree and the gods of Norse mythology, or the strange hunts and voyages of the ancient lrish tales. Yet few people realise the significance of the similarities and contrasts between the religions of the pre-Christian people of north-western Europe. The Celts and Germans and Scandinavians had much in common in their religious practices and beliefs, and this is the first serious attempt that has been made to compare them. There are striking resemblances in their ideas about battle-goddesses and protective spirits, holy places, sacrificial rituals, divination and ideas about the Other World; and Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe poses questions like: do such parallels go back to early times or are they owing to late Viking contact? Hilda Ellis Davidson has worked for many years on pre-Christian Scandinavian and Germanic religion and now compares them with the Celts from the background of previous studies, using evidence from archaeology, iconography, later literature and folklore, in a search for basic patterns which will add to our knowledge of the early peoples in Europe. Aimed at teachers and libraries but also accessible to students of history, religion and Celtic, Norse and German languages and cultures. |
Índice
Introduction | 1 |
Holy places | 13 |
Feasting and sacrifice | 36 |
The rites of battle | 69 |
Landspirits and ancestors | 102 |
Foreknowledge and destiny | 134 |
The Other World | 167 |
The ruling powers | 196 |
Otras ediciones - Ver todo
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson Vista previa restringida - 1988 |
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson Vista de fragmentos - 1988 |
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions Hilda Roderick Ellis Davidson Vista de fragmentos - 1988 |
Términos y frases comunes
Æsir ancient Anglo-Saxon animals appear associated battle birds boar burial mound carved cauldron Celtic Celts Celts and Germans centre century Christian Cross and Slover Cú Chulainn Cú Roí cult Dagda Davidson dead death deities Denmark described divine dream drink druids earlier early earth Edda feast fertility figures Fomorians Freyja Freyr Gaul giants goddesses gods graves Gundestrup Cauldron hall head hero holy places horns horse Iceland Irish killed king land land-spirits Landnámabók literature living Loki luck Mabinogion myths Norse Norway O'Rahilly Odin offerings Olaf period pillars poem poet pre-Christian Ragnarok ravens realm recognised reference religious represented Rev Celt ritual Roman sacred sacrifice Saga sanctuary Scandinavia Scandinavian seems seeress ship Snorri sometimes spear spirits stone suggested supernatural world Sutton Hoo Sweden sword symbol Tacitus Táin tale temple Thor tradition trans tree valkyries Vanir Viking Age Voluspá warriors woman women Ynglinga Saga